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'(No Model.) I

G. A. HIOKGOX.

Vise.

Patented 0ct. 5,1880.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. HIOKOOX, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO STEPHENS PATENT VISECOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VISE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,892, dated October5, 1880.

Application filed August 9, 1880. (N 0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. HICKOOX, of Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Vises; and the following is declared to be a description of the same.

My invention is an improvement on and addition to the vise covered byLetters Patent Nos. 42,236 and 105,507; and it consists in thecombination of a spring with the movingjaw of the vise, whereby the sameis drawn toward the stationary jaw after being opened, so as to grasp anarticle between the vise-jaws, while the lever-handle is operated toapply the necessary holding pressure.

I am aware that it is not new to apply a spring to a vise-jaw, as bothspiral and bowshaped springs have been used heretofore to open thevise-jaws as the pressure of the operating-screw is relieved.

In my improved vise the spring acts in the opposite direction to drawthe vise-jaw against the article to be held or to close the jaw when notin use.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section and partial elevationlongitudinally of the vise, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section and partialelevation of the same.

The jaw a and stationary vise-bed Z), together with the movable jaw cand sliding bar (I, are similar to those set forth in the before-namedpatents, and known to the trade as the Stephens patent vise, except ashereinafter set forth.

The lever-handle c is pivoted at its end in the vise-bed I), andconnected to it is a linkand-rack pawl, the same as shown in theaforesaid patents. The pawl takes into arack on the side of the slidingbar cl, and the moving of the lever-handle after an article has beenplaced between the jaws of the vise applies the pressure necessary tohold the article that is placed between the jaws. l/Vhen the press ureis relieved and the lever turned back to a normal position the slidingbar is free, and can be moved forward or backward by the hand of theoperator.

In my improvement the movable jaw, after being drawn out to receive thearticle to be held, is by the spiral spring drawn toward and againstsaid article, and when the leverhandle is moved the parts are operatedto draw the movable jaw c firmly against said article and hold itsecurely.

My special improvementconsists in the slidebar d, formed with a deepchannel or groove, g, in its under surface, in combination with thehelical springf, that is within said groove or channel in the under sideof the slide-bar d, and said spring is secured at one end, by a pin, h,to the slide-bar d, and at the other end, by a pin, 6, to the bed I) ofthe vise. The bed I) of the vise is usually secured to a bench or tableby a screw entering the screw-thread at from below.

In operating said vise the workman grasps the jaw 0' (usually with theleft hand) and draws it out against the action of the spring f. He thenplaces the article to be held between the jaws to and c, which, owing tothe tension of the spring f, close and steady the article in positionuntil the clan'iping-lever or handle 0 is operated to secure the parts.The springf serves to move the jaw 0 up against the article to beheldwithout the intervention of either a screw or lever.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a bench-vise, the sliding bar d, having agroove or channel in the under side, in combination with the helicalcontractile spring within said groove and the devices for connecting theends of the spring to the respective parts ot'the vise, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination, with the vise-jaws and the lever and mechanismfora-pplying the holding pressure to thejaws, ofa contractile spring fordrawing the movable jaw toward the article to be held previous to thelever power be ing applied, substantially as specified.

Signed by me this 2d day of August, A. I). 1880.

GEO. A. HIGK'OOX.

Witnesses HAROLD SERRELL, WILLIAM G. MOTT.

